My wife told me that I need to think of a name for this part of our ministry. This is my working title...
Here I sit on a Sunday morning usually I would be finishing up work on the message, but this morning there is none. I think that this is harder for me than anyone else. I love to bring God's word every Sunday, it is my passion so a Sunday like this is hard for me in preparation. Why is there no message or music today? TODAY WE SERVE!
We as fusion take the 5th Sunday of the month and devote it to serving at the Boys and Girls Club (our regular meeting place). Why? Vision. This is one of the distinctives of our vision and a passion of my heart. Matthew 20:26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Most of all we serve in response to Jesus. We serve because he served. We desire to live like Jesus and live the call that God gave us in the moment he saved us. So this Sunday is the beginning of a significant piece of our Church. Why are we doing it on Sunday? Because is insures that this is a priority. This is our way of loving the place we meet at in a tangible way.
So here I sit thinking of what could be... will what we are doing change the world? I do not know. Will the Boys and Girls Club be clean? A part of it. Will Jesus be lifted up through our service? YES!
We gather to serve today. Should it be such a strange idea?
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
a kind word...
I have found out lately what a kind word can mean to a hurting person. The value of speaking and being a person of peace is amazing and so simple. It all starts with how you view people around you.
I recently was told by a young lady that one day while she was working she was having a rough day, everything was coming apart around her and she was in a fog. She said that the sound of my voice, the kindness in my demeanor and the gentle words of encouragement I gave her helped her out immensely. Nothing profound, nothing from my training just kindness. Although she saw me, I cannot help but think that the voice that she heard that brought peace was that of Jesus Christ. Sometimes Jesus works in and through us as we do the routine of our day. Sometimes the most gentle of words can change a person's day and that is of eternal value because every person has eternal value.
There is question here: How do you treat the people you encounter? How do you speak and act toward people who work at coffee houses and restaurants? Do you treat them with value? Do you treat them as if the bear the image of God? Or do you treat them as means to your end, a good customer experience?
The people of the Kingdom of God are not consumers but agents of healing and change. We MUST at all times live that way and then the littlest of things will be done in the name of Jesus Christ.
I recently was told by a young lady that one day while she was working she was having a rough day, everything was coming apart around her and she was in a fog. She said that the sound of my voice, the kindness in my demeanor and the gentle words of encouragement I gave her helped her out immensely. Nothing profound, nothing from my training just kindness. Although she saw me, I cannot help but think that the voice that she heard that brought peace was that of Jesus Christ. Sometimes Jesus works in and through us as we do the routine of our day. Sometimes the most gentle of words can change a person's day and that is of eternal value because every person has eternal value.
There is question here: How do you treat the people you encounter? How do you speak and act toward people who work at coffee houses and restaurants? Do you treat them with value? Do you treat them as if the bear the image of God? Or do you treat them as means to your end, a good customer experience?
The people of the Kingdom of God are not consumers but agents of healing and change. We MUST at all times live that way and then the littlest of things will be done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 2010 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
We baptized two people on Easter! We were blessed to celebrate our first Easter at Fusion by baptizing two members of our congregation. We know that God is working in the community of Chico and we will see many more people following Jesus and being baptized.
One of the things that has marked the ministry here in Chico is one of the first things that we did when we moved here. And that is serving the community. We have worked at the Jesus Center, Love Chico, Special Olympics and many others. This continues to be the case. We continue to serve at the Jesus Center on a regular basis. Many of the people who would not come to Church continue to join us. This has been a way to have amazing spiritual conversations while loving the homeless and hurting. Please pray that these conversations can turn into people following Jesus.
Pray with us as we take May 30th and do a service project together. We will still be meeting at Boys and Girls Club but we will gather to worship through working together rather than through music and the word. I know God will do amazing things as we love on the Boys and Girls Club in the name of Jesus.
Jeremy has also been made the Chaplin of the Chico Fire Department, which is another amazing service opportunity for Fusion. This month he will be taken around to all the stations and meet the firemen. We are very excited about the relationships that will be forged through this.
Please also continue to pray for our financial support. We are making ends meet, but the money we have in our reserve is slowly going down as we wait for the additional commitments of support that we need. If you would like to commit support to us you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you! If you are currently supporting us and have not yet sent in your support for May please do so at this time. Thank you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
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